Design a Diorama!

What You Need:

• Shoebox
• Colored paper
• White glue or glue stick
• Colored clay
• Craft items: pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, glitter, buttons, scrap fabric, beads, pine cones, etc.
• Markers or crayons

What You Do:

1. Help your child decide on what type of scene they would like to create. Some ideas might include: part of a favorite book, scene from a summer holiday, depiction of my best day ever or my birthday, or what I want to be when I grow up.
2. Set the empty shoebox on its side, with the inside facing towards you. This is the set where your scene will unfold. You can set the box inside its top to act as an extension of the scene, if you wish.
3. Start by setting up the background, just like a set designer. Help your child to imagine the scene. What was the setting they are trying to recreate? Is it the morning, a sunny day, or nighttime? Indoors or outdoors?
4. Next, begin to create details and props. For example, if you are going to make a birthday party scene, make the table, candles, cake, guests, presents, etc. You can use any number of materials, but crafts supplies such as clay, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, and fabric scraps work well. These should be made to scale and be able to comfortably within the small box.
5. Once all elements of the scene are constructed, have your child arrange the items to create the image they had in mind. Is everything there? Does anything need to be added? Is there too much? Encourage your child to evaluate the scene and readjust, add or edit items.
6. Help your child to glue the objects in place. If you would prefer to keep it an interactive scene so the objects can move, skip this step.
7. Invite your child to share the scene with friends and family by displaying the diorama and telling the story that goes along with it. This is a great way to retell imaginative or real-life experience, and make a fun crafts project to go along with it!